First Sunday in Lent

Today is the First Sunday in Lent. Last week I spoke of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Later today in my church and in many other churches around the world there will be special services - in many places the Great Litany will be said or sung. Just what is this Lent though?

The Teutonic word Lent, which we use to denote the forty days fast preceding Easter, originally meant no more than the spring season. Imagine that! Still it has been used from the Anglo-Saxon period to translate the more significant Latin term quadragesima, meaning the "forty days", or more literally the "fortieth day". One of the hymn we sing is Forty Days and Forty Nights.

Just how Lent is observed varies by location and by individual. Perhaps if you would like to add a comment here, you could tell us about your Lenten observance.